Compare towns
Williamsburg vs Upton vs Douglas vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Williamsburg has the most affordable homes ($403k median).
Upton has the most expensive homes ($577k median).
Douglas has the youngest population (median age 44).
Pelham has the most people working from home (32.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Williamsburg | Upton | Douglas | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,694 |
8,189 |
9,207Highest |
1,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50±2.4Highest 25% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44±2.6Lowest 10% above MA |
45±8.4 13% above MA |
| Williamsburg and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±6.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.6% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3 MA: 7.9% |
2%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Williamsburg and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,792±$21kLowest about the MA average |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$152,267±$10k 46% above MA |
$113,750±$24k 9% above MA |
| Upton and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,100±$37kLowest 28% below MA |
$576,700±$41kHighest about the MA average |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$447,600±$33k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,420±$228 19% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,205±$560 32% below MA |
| Douglas and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,761Lowest 4% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$7,472 25% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61%±28Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
42.7%±35.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Williamsburg and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
10.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
83.8% MA: 62.5% |
79.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 13% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 16% above MA |
23 minLowest 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.7 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.8%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pelham and Williamsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #46 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Williamsburg | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Douglas | Pelham |
| High school in town | None in town | Blackstone Valley | Douglas High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
7.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.